Budget 2017

2016 FactsGrowth in Real GDP of 2.6% compared with initial and revised targets of 4.4% and 4% respectively.

The current balance projects a surplus of $1,631 million, a decrease of $976 million or 37.4% over revised 2016.

Current Non-Interest Expenditure The National Budget comprises of a number of elements.

In this section we consider the measures announced by the Minister, analyse them, evaluate their impact and discuss the extent to which they meet the economic benefits of the stakeholders Section 6 of the 2017 Budget Speech contains a staggering fifty seven paragraphs of Budget measures, some of which are regulatory rather than fiscal.

The sore issue of contract employees in the public sector, following the change of governments in 2015, continues to attract interest.

The APNU+AFC earned its razor-thin, one seat majority after the public and the electorate had become completely disenchanted with the corrupt practices of the PPP/C Government.

There is no question that the state of the laws inherited by Mr.

The UN Convention Against Corruption has served as the catalyst for international efforts against corrupt politicians and public officials who have robbed the coffers of their states to the tune of billions of dollars.

The decision by the Minister to practically eliminate the long list of zero-rated items, making most of them exempt, has raised some basic questions about Value-Added Tax.

The Budget’s measures are substantial, revolutionary and are probably unprecedented. It is presented at a time when the Government is having to defend itself against accusations of corruption and cronyism.